Pies eye home preliminary final

Collingwood was on its knees just on two months ago, clinging grimly to a spot in the eight by percentage only, the mid-season break a blessed relief. And, it seems, a pivotal moment of reflection.

With yet another gritty, workmanlike performance against a more favoured opponent last night in the 18-point win over Sydney, their eighth win in nine games since the week off, the Magpies, courtesy of Adelaide's shock loss yesterday afternoon to the Kangaroos, have moved to second spot on the ladder, and, in doing so, within touching distance of a home preliminary final.

If Collingwood beats Essendon on Friday night, the Magpies will host an MCG qualifying final, and should they win that, the right to host the play-off for a grand final spot. The stakes aren't a lot less for the Bombers, whose 10-goal caning of a disappointing Fremantle at Telstra Dome yesterday gives them a real chance of a top-four finish.

Brisbane is back in the top four, just below the Pies, after its efficient, 37-point disposal of Geelong at the Gabba, while West Coast, eighth before this round, can climb right back into the all-important fourth spot today with a big enough win over Melbourne at Subiaco.

But the Magpies, good enough on the road and with fearsome support behind them at home, are looming as formidable opposition. Last night's critical win, which has cost Sydney its top-four spot, came on the back of more solid running, relentless tackling and general pressure from the Pies, who refused to allow Paul Roos's side to exert its own running power.

Skipper Nathan Buckley was well held by Brett Kirk, and Chris Tarrant restricted to one goal, but in a positive sign for the Pies there were plenty in the support cast to help spread the load.

It makes the clash with Essendon perhaps just as keenly anticipated as was last year's round-22 Port Adelaide-Brisbane "thriller". The Bombers, having lost Dustin Fletcher and Sean Wellman yesterday, pulled off one of their best wins this season.

Not for the first time this season, Essendon responded to the challenge. In fact, in arguably all its best wins in 2003 - Anzac Day against Collingwood, against West Coast in round 10, and yesterday - Essendon has had to grit its teeth and pick up the slack.

Once again, Essendon found inspiration from perhaps unlikely sources. Young ruckman David Hille neutralised the potentially damaging Docker ruck pair of Troy Simmonds and Aaron Sandilands, nearly breaking even for hitouts, and with 17 touches and three goals doing damage around the ground. Skipper James Hird, and the Johnsons, Jason and Mark, were the beneficiaries, sharing just on 70 disposals.

Almost as conspicuous was Ben Haynes, who had the direct assist leading to no less than five Bomber goals. With his smart reading of play and deft use of the ball by foot, Haynes looks a natural, and now a certain part of Essendon's finals 22.

One thing is certain. There will be several thousand Richmond supporters who saw his display yesterday now asking why a player of such obvious natural talent could crack just five senior games with the Tigers in two years.

Two more impressive youngsters, Danny Jacobs and Andrew Welsh, who fought a day-long war with a frustrated Jeff Farmer, held the back line together, while Matthew Lloyd, unquestionably in career-best form, finished it all off with 6.3. That's eight wins from nine for the Dons, half scratchy at best, but among them also performances of enough character, and skill, to have them looming as a serious September wildcard.

Fremantle, alternately, seems to keep shooting itself in the foot just as it forges serious credibility as a flag contender, turning in a stinker just after winning deserved kudos. Yesterday was a classic, and costly, example.

With the Eagles now eyeing the top four, the Dockers will need a lot more resolve than was shown in the last quarter-and-a-half in next Saturday's winner-take-all Western derby.